STORMS

Written By: Kirk Peterson

I always say the enemy knows just how to get me.  Fear has always been his greatest tool he uses against me to blind me of my hope.  The enemy can steal my very spirit by using my own fears against me, dragging me down…Though the enemy can tempt us to fall during our most fierce storms, God can also use those very same storms to reach out to us!

Clear Sailing

I was listening to my bible study’s latest lecture about when Jesus walks on water, and the teaching leader said a couple of great things that spoke to me…

First, he said, “Even though we are Christians, it doesn’t mean that it’s clear sailing from here.  Sometimes, God uses trials to help us grow....”  I love the way he painted the picture of our life like that of a sailing ship, there is just something so cool about painting our life into the very scriptures that we are learning about.  The apostles where in the will of God when they listened to Jesus and sailed their boat out into the Sea of Galilee, but a fierce storm came upon them anyway.  (Matthew 14:22-33)  Just like the storm that came upon the disciples in the Bible, we too will experience fierce storms when we follow God.  Even though we are Christians following the way, hardships are still going to come in our lives.

See Image Here: http://www.paintingyouwithwords.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Sailboat-Sunset-Tungdk3.jpg

Storms to Reach Us

The second truth I loved from his lecture, was when he said, “Jesus used the thing that the disciples feared the most, the crashing waves of the sea and the storm, as a pathway for Christ to reach them.”  The disciples were so terrified during the storm, that they thought Jesus was a ghost as he was walking toward them on the water.  Here were the people that knew Christ the most here on earth, and yet fear blinded them so much to their savior that they thought He was some kind of ghost! 

Have you ever had a time in your life where fear griped your heart so much that you couldn’t see straight?  During the worst times of your life, in the midst of the storm, how hard it is sometimes to see the rescue that lies just outside the boat...?

Many of the disciples were fishermen, and the crashing sea and waves amongst the storm was surely a familiar fear to many of them.  Jesus spoke to them saying “Don’t be afraid, take courage for I am here.”  How many times in the Bible does God tell us those same words, do not be afraid for I am with you?

Two of the most significant ways God has taught me something about my life, has been in the midst of storms.  As my pastor likes to say, “My faith changed the trajectory of my life”, when I first believed in Christ and when the Lord taught me that life is not about myself but others.  It might be a hard prayer to ask your savior, but getting humbled in life brought me to the place that Jesus calls all of us to as part of His family in the Kingdom, being meek and poor in spirit--but it is there that God gave me new truths that has transformed my life! 

Just like when Peter fell during the storm and Jesus rescued him from the waters, our Lord and savior will always be here for us when we are in the middle of the storms in our own lives.  Have you reached out to Jesus when you need Him most?  Have you cried out for rescue when the waters are closing in around you?  What do you need rescue from today?

See Image Here: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ODto-qgPqU83Hn7IFxU9CF2MInAALR8JYbhtLbAVgnPJVZBbL4cLzujH9FXZYxyCzqmzCpCSxk-igfH8iUA-QF2XDdu0gkO5UC3p5XTo0duWD9z6eaDzzARgOQpB6yCdUGNqhcCQJeAo/s1600/jesus+storm.jpg

Storms build Faith

I love how one of the other children’s leaders put it during his lesson, “Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat and walk on water…are you willing to get out of the boat?”  When Peter fell during the storm he cried out to his Lord for rescue.  Can you imagine the faith Peter had to be willing to step out on the water?  We don’t know for sure how Peter and Jesus got back into the boat, but I believe the Spirit has told me that Jesus pulled Peter up out of the waters, and walked with him hand in hand on the water back to the boat.  The Spirit tugs at me seeing that awesome picture of our Savior walking with us through the storm, when our faith has failed us and we are lost, empowering us by His mighty hand to rise above the waves and back into the boat.

Peter was to be the leader of Christ’ church.  Can you imagine the unshakable bond that was created between Jesus and Peter after the storm?  How encouraging it must have been for Peter during all the trials and hardships he would face in being the first leader of Christ’ church, to have that experience to look back on.  When was a time you can look back on where God rescued you?  Are you in the middle of a storm now needing rescue?

See Image Here: http://beginningandend.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Praying-Defnding-the-Christian-faith-e1349305115650.jpg

Believe

After everything the disciples had seen Jesus do: raising the dead back to life, healing the deaf/mute/blind/lame, casting out demons, preaching to the hearts of all people ….it wasn’t until they saw Jesus walking on water that they believed Jesus was the Son of God.  Many of the prophets of God all throughout the Old Testament had the Spirit of God upon them and where able to do the miraculous…but it wasn’t until the apostles saw this miracle that they believed in the divinity of Jesus as God in flesh.

When was your tipping point when you finally took a leap of faith and believed in Jesus?  When was it when you finally believed in something that you could not see?  Here the disciples got to see the majestic power of God walking in peace toward them, using the very thing they feared most as a pathway to reach them.  How has God reached out to you?  Do you need to take a step of faith like Peter did?

See Image Here: http://www.iamthird.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/YouCat-I-Believe-in-Jesus.jpg

Bible Study

Up until I studied Matthew 14, my favorite story in all the Bible was when Jacob wrestled with God and after reconciled with his brother...but now, with everything the Spirit showed me in studying the lesson this week on Matthew 14, my very favorite story in all the Bible is when Jesus walked on water!!!  I encourage all of you reading this to seek out a Bible Study in your town, for I believe the hope of the American church lies in detailed Bible study and I know that God has used it to change my life forever!

Jesus Walks on Water

22Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.33Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. (Matthew 14:22-33, NLT)

May you have peace in Christ.  Though you will have many trials and sorrows, take heart for Jesus has overcome the world!

See Casting Crowns “Voice of Truth” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcuiuIwtpa4

Peace

Written By: Kirk Peterson

Dark Storms

Recently some significant events happened in my life.  These were things that were not about me but about someone who is very close to me.  I told this person that love is sacrifice, and there is only a handful of people in this world that I can say this about—that I loved this person so much that I would be willing to die for them.  Jesus told us that there is no greater love for someone then to be willing to lay down one’s own life for your friends, and I meant every bit of the weight of those words that I said to them. (John 15:13)

So many times in this life we try to fix things.  I know that I wanted nothing more than to fix the darkness that surrounded the one close to me.  I could see perilous roads ahead that lead to destruction and suffering, and I told myself I wasn’t going to let those things happen.  I decided I was going to make a stand and fight for this person and use everything I had to keep them safe, directing their life the way that I thought it should go!

I made a decision that I felt was in the best interests of this person and went around behind their back.  Even though it went against a promise that I had made them, I felt that the consequences of not acting were so significant, that I went ahead with the course of action that I felt was right.  It was later, as this person was confronting me about what I did, even though they said they saw why I did what I did, believing it was the right thing, the unintended consequences of my actions were too great and the cost was too much for them.  It was at this very moment in our conversation, sitting out on my front porch in our tattered and warn from age and elements director’s chair, looking out on God’s creation with the warm sun and weather painting in the background, that God’s Holy Spirit showed me something! 

See Image here: http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.10363969.6961/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg

Peace of Christ

I realized that this dark spiral that had surrounded this person had somehow become my own.  I had somehow picked up those same weights and worries that this person was carrying that was dragging them down--and put them on my back too.  I was depressed and sad, worried about this person…and somehow I had let all that same darkness seep into my life as well.

Almost like a breath of fresh air, the spirit whispered to me “let go.”  Let go of all that weight I was carrying.  Let go of all that worry over the darkness and destruction that laid ahead. This person knew how much I loved them, this person knew that I was there to support them and catch them if they fell, and from the moment that I listened to the living, breathing spirit of God, the weight was gone!  The peace of Christ had wrapped its loving arms around me and gave rest to my soul.  (Matthew 11:28-30) 

See Image here: http://jennhealth.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/7-fresh-air.jpg

A Peace only Christ can give

I believe that God is all around us.  He is everywhere.  Even now, when I was writing about his Spirit, my youngest son woke up from his afternoon nap.  I’m sure some of you parents out there reading this can relate, but when Cole wakes up early from his nap, he can get into these terrible tantrum crying fits.  He works himself up so much that he can actually make himself puke from crying so hard?  As I was trying to comfort my son, I prayed to God that if it was the enemy attacking him, that in the name of His son Jesus Christ to bind the enemy, for I know that the enemy has no power over Jesus.  Jesus is stronger.  I told Cole to be at peace, to not let himself get so worked up over something as small as waking up too early.  I said, don’t make something simple so hard.  I smiled to myself as I said those words to him, because I know that is something God had showed me as well about my own weights that I carry.

As I started to scratch his head, his eyes became heavy and he fell back asleep.  Cole has a lot of me in him, and I find rest all the time by falling asleep to my wife Heidi scratching my head, just like my son did now.

LISITEN CLOSE MY FRIENDS TO THESE WORDS:  No matter the darkness that you find yourself entangled in.  No matter the terrible weight that you are carrying.  No matter the circumstances dragging you down in life--there is a peace that is available to you.  This peace is like a warm blanket on a cold and frosty day.  It comforts you like nothing else in this world can.  This peace is something that ONLY Jesus can give you, not any other God, nor do all roads lead to God--this peace is only from Him.  I pray now that you can come to Christ, casting your cares and worries upon him, and may his light give rest to your souls!

See Image Here: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUEL5F-rIyeW3ZDIlrVt9wHTW2DGfvKiF0InwU_wtTY1KNcBNYFkWKUWRdOcXPMmzPStKT_1snRzBBm2YXwcgshd3NjqR9lV6ePLaCRSGS7B5KjKqj1YkOnrPfXMTIntZYFc26owd2eg/s1600/Jesus-calms-the-sea.jpg

Jesus Calms the Storm

35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mark 4:35-41, NLT)

See Hillsong United’s “Oceans (Where feet may fail)” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUCtfsyI-5I

May the peace of Christ bring rest to your souls.